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Kravitz: Not surprised, just disappointed Dungy wouldn't draft Sam

Bob Kravitz, bob.kravitz@indystar.com
9:59 p.m. EDT July 22, 2014

Felix Griffin (wearing gloves), 50, who plays the conga drums in the band Second Chance at Plainfield Correctional Facility, asks Tony Dungy how he can give back to the community once he is released in 6 months, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 after the Uncommon Leadership Event. He is looking for a program to minister to youth to avoid the prison life. ****THIS IS EMBARGOED from web and print until Thursday morning. Danese Kenon/The Star(Photo: Danese Kenon)

It doesn't surprise me that Tony Dungy said he wouldn't draft openly gay NFL player Michael Sam because it would be a distraction. Given Dungy's religious nature, his Indiana Family Institute affiliation and his expressed opposition to gay marriage, I wouldn't expect Dungy to open the door too widely to a gay athlete.

It is, however, disappointing.

Dungy talks about the distraction, how things could possibly go awry with a gay player in the locker room, but I tend to think this has less to do with distractions and everything to do with his personal disapproval of Sam's sexuality.

Let's talk about distractions.

You think Jackie Robinson, or the first black NFL player, constituted a distraction? If Dungy believed Johnny Manziel was the next Joe Montana, would he refuse to draft him because he created a distraction? How many misbehaving players, who create their own sorts of distractions, has Dungy drafted or supported over the years when he was a head coach?

Here's what he told the Tampa Tribune:

"I wouldn't have taken him," Dungy said. "Not because I don't believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn't want to deal with all of it. It's not going to be totally smooth …things will happen."

It seems to me that if you're the kind the head coach who creates a culture that welcomes diversity and tolerance — and I've always thought Dungy did that — you're not going to be worried about how "things will happen." And I think it fails to give today's NFL players credit for being forward-thinking, tolerant human beings. While there are certainly cretins among them — as there are in any business — I tend to believe that the overwhelming majority will treat Sam just like any other football player.

Sports have been at the forefront of social change because brave men and women have done the right thing, even if it meant occasional distractions.